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I’m always on the lookout for things to make life a little easier and more productive. After I first wrote about 7 of the Best Travel Apps (in my humble onion) the travel tips landscape has changed once again.

There are new travel kids on the block – and here are the best new ones I’ve found:

7 of the Hottest Travel Tips and Tools

1- Native NOW called Pana!

I just love these guys. Despite the puzzling name, this is a virtual travel assistant whom you can reach by typing into your phone. I’ve been testing it out for a while now (as well as a number of other VAs) and this is one of the best and brightest. Response times are fast, details are accurate. Plus there’s even a sense of humour from the person at the other end. I haven’t quite mustered up the courage to have someone use my credit card details to book something for me yet…but the information and assistance has been great.

Pana. Paid service.

2 – Fancy Hands

Now, these guys have an app and desktop version and they operate a team of online virtual assistants. They don’t specialise in travel but it does fall under their remit. They can help research trips, phone hotels if you’re going to be late, set up meetings and book appointments for you to get your travel jabs done. They can also do plenty of other things in your life – like arrange flowers for someone’s birthday.

Fancy Hands. Paid service.

3 – Regal Card

This is one for the super luxe traveller – and probably one who spells it “traveler” as it has quite a US focus, but it does reach worldwide. For an annual fee, you can get discounts on travel bookings and access any Priority Pass Lounge in the world. There’s also an online concierge service (similar to the two mentioned above) but it relies on phone calls to the US (which limits its usefulness if you have to pay extra roaming costs.)

Regal Card. Paid service.

4 – Safeture

Now, the younger me would have thought that this was a waste of time. But then this happened.

This app sends alerts to your phone about any disturbing news or travel alerts. You can also set it up so that selected contacts can see where you are (or where your phone is at least) at any time. The only snag that I can spot is that it’s registered to your phone number…so if you switch SIMs while abroad then you’d have to start again.

Safeture Pro – free with in app purchase.

5 – Trover

Cute geolocation apps have come and gone since I first signed up for Facebook all those years ago – but newcomer Trover looks the most useful so far. It lets you search for places to eat and things to see and do based on the location of your phone. Reviews and photos are written by the community and you can follow beloved travel bloggers as well ( here’s my profile, you know, just in case ;-) ) What I like about it is that you can make and save lists, making it a truly useful travel planning tool.

Trover: free.

6 – The Expedia Hand Luggage Guide

Ah, airlines and their baggage weight roulettes! Even if you fly every other week, it’s hard to keep up. Expedia have sold themselves a little short with the name because they list hold luggage specs with this tool as well. They’ve organised links to the policies of several major airlines and promise to update the tool regularly. If you frequently fly short haul in Europe then this will help you decide which ticket to book and help you avoid those infuriating extra charges at the airport.

Expedia hand luggage guide. Free.

7 – Spotted by Locals

Also, for those who are Europe bound, check out the cool app called Spotted by Locals that details unusual, authentic things to do in cities across the continent. I’ve a confession to make in that it’s less of a newbie than the others but the oversight from the list last time has unsettled me…so here we are! (Plus, they have now included some cities in North America too.)

Spotted by Locals. Free and paid versions available.

So that’s it. Seven of the hottest travel tips to help you travel better!

What did I miss?

Cheers,

Disclosure – some of these links earn me money at no extra cost to you. However, I only recommend things that I’ve tested and find useful. Why? Because I’m stubborn like that and also because there’s no benefit to me in leading you astray. There’s just no point in being bad around here ;-)